The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) was first created in 1980. This article charts its historical origins and growth. It offers a critical overview of the operation of the MYP revealing both its geographical distribution disparities and the current picture in terms of external moderation of student work. There are…

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2008. Following almost four decades of rapid growth the IBO embarked on a strategic planning exercise in 2004. One outcome is that the IBO seeks to widen access to its Diploma Programme (IBDP), and one avenue being followed is online provision. There have been…

The dimension of education concerned with international schools has formed a recognizable industry over the past six decades yet little attempt has been made to conceptualize its nature and scale. A diverse conglomeration of educational institutions has been joined by a myriad of support organizations. There is clearly a need for an "alliance" of…

Within the diverse universe of internationally minded schools there is currently much momentum behind the creation of some form of "alliance". Although the movement behind this can be traced back to the early 1990s, this article proposes that the current momentum can be largely understood within a fundamental paradigm shift emerging within…

The concept of public relations is a wide-ranging one and local community contact is usually a key area of activity. This activity with regard to international schools has generally drawn criticism from writers. It is a complex and ever-changing relationship, yet is arguably central to the founding ethos of many schools. This paper reports on the…